Dirigible headlight



Qdi. 22, '1935. 1, Fl JACKS 2,018,307

DIRIGIBLE HEADLIGHT Filed F'eb. 5, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 InventofAttorney oet 22, 1935. J F, JACKS 2,018,307

DIRIGIBLE HEADLIGHT Filed Feb. 5, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z7 Inventor .A iwww Oct. 22, 1935. J, F, JACKS 2,018,307

DIRIGIBLE HEADLIGHT l Filed Feb. 5, 1935 3 sheets-sheet 5 InventorPatented Oct. 22, 1935 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to dirigible headlights and the object of theinvention is to provide a headlight structure of this character whichembodies certain new and useful improvements over similar headlightstructures, and which is characterized by economy of construction,operation and application to an automobile.

A further object of the invention is to provide a dirigible headlightstructure which will steer easily and in proper relation to the steeringWheels of the vehicles so as to cast the light in the direction oftravel of the vehicle at all times.

The invention, together with its objects and advantages will be bestunderstood from a study of the following description taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a detail view with parts shown in section and illustrating anapplication of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the invention as applied.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of a headlight, with certain partsshown in section illustrating the mounting for the headlight.

Fig. 4 is an elevational view taken at right angles to- Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a connecting rod.

In accordance with the present invention, a pair of headlights I0 isprovided for each vehicle and the casing of each headlight at its bottomis provided with a depending neck I through which extends a threadedstem I2. A bracket plate I3 is provided for attachment to a fender I4 ofthe automobile as suggested in Fig. 2, and rising from this plate I3 isa bearing socket I5 which, at its upper end, is provided with anintegral internal ball race I6, the groove of which is substantiallyV-shape in cross section as shown in Fig. 3. A pair of complementalupper and lower race members II are provided to cooperate with the raceI6, and anti-friction elements in the nature of balls I8 are providedbetween the races as shown. The shank I2 extends through the alinedbearing races and threadedly engaged with the shank are upper and lowernuts I9 which serve to secure the lamp at the desired verticaladjustment. Thus, it will be seen that an eicient means is provided forrotatably supporting the lamp to swing in a horizontal plane. Snuglyfitting the socket I5 is a substantially cylindrical dust guard orcasing 20 into the upper end of which extends the neck II of the lampcasing with suflicient clearance to permit free rotative movement of thelamp casing.

A retaining bar 2| is pivoted at one end to a (Cl. 24U-62.51)

pair of lugs 22 provided on the casing I0 and a suitable spring 23 isprovided to eng-age the pivoted end of the bar 2| for holding the samein either its raised or lowered position. When the bar 2| is in the fullline position shown in Fig. 3, 5 it will be seen that the casing I0 mayeasily rotate. When the bar 2| is swung to the dotted line positionshown in Fig. 3, the free end of the bar eng-ages between a pair of lugs24 provided on the plate I3, to thereby retain the headlight 10 l casingI0 ag-ainst rotative movement. Thus, should any of the operating partsfor rotating the headlights become broken, by reason ofengagement of thebar 2| with the lugs 24, the headlights will be held in proper positionagainst 15 casu-al rotative movement.

Extending from the neck I I thereof, the casing I0 is provided with anarm 25, vthe free end of which is formed into a ball socket 26 that issplit as shown. A screw 2l is provided for contracting 20 the socket 2S.

For connecting the headlight casings I, there is provided a tie-rod 28that is provided on its ends with balls 29 that engage in the sockets 26so that the headlights I0 are so connected that 25 swinging movement ofone will be transmitted to the other.

For turning the headlights incidental to a. steering of the vehicle,there is provided a suitable mechanism in the form of a shaft 30 jour-30 naled in bearing standards 3| rising from a frame bar 32 of theautomobile. At one end, the shaft 3|) is connected by gearing 32' withthe steering post 33 of the automobile, and the gearing 32 issubstantially enclosed in a suitable 35 housing 34. Drive from thesteering post 33 to the shaft S is transmitted to a vertical shaft 35through the medium of gearing 35 enclosed within a housing 3l. The shaft35 is journaled in bearing arms 38 that are suitably mounted 4.0 in theautomobile and the upper end of theshaft 35 is provided with a crank arm3S that at its free end is provided with a spherical socket 40 insubstantially the same manner as are the arms 25 associated with theheadlight casings. 45

As best shown in Fig. 5, the split sleeve clamp 4| is secured at thedesired adjustment on the rod 25 and extending from the sleeve 4| is astem l2 provided with a ball head 43 that is engaged in the socket 4U ofthe arm 39. It will 50 thus be seen that when the steering post 33 isrotated for steering the Wheels of the vehicle, the headlights I0 willof course be rotated in a corresponding direction through theconnections between the post 33 and the rod 28 just described. 55

